
Core i3-6100U vs Core 2 Duo T7800

Core i3-6100U

Core 2 Duo T7800
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-6100U is positioned at rank 772 and the Core 2 Duo T7800 is on rank 156, so the Core 2 Duo T7800 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-6100U
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T7800
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-6100U | Core 2 Duo T7800 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-6100U | Core 2 Duo T7800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-6100U and Core 2 Duo T7800

Core i3-6100U
The Core i3-6100U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,631 points. Launch price was $281.

Core 2 Duo T7800
The Core 2 Duo T7800 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 August 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,663 points. Launch price was $515.
Processing Power
The Core i3-6100U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core 2 Duo T7800's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Core i3-6100U versus 2.6 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T7800 — a 12.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T7800 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i3-6100U uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T7800 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-6100U scores 2,631 against the Core 2 Duo T7800's 2,663 — a 1.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo T7800. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-6100U vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo T7800.
| Feature | Core i3-6100U | Core 2 Duo T7800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.6 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.6 GHz+13% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 4 MB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-78% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 2,631 | 2,663+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-6100U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo T7800 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-6100U | Core 2 Duo T7800 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-667 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-6100U) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo T7800). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T7800 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T7800 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.
| Feature | Core i3-6100U | Core 2 Duo T7800 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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